“If the Old Testament is a puzzle to you, this introduction will not only throw open its riches but also draw you into its divine drama.” —Book NookALSO AVAILABLE—Great Themes of Scripture: New Testament

    Gordon Wenham, and with this trend his commentary identifies.Dr. Wenham has a remarkable gift for clarity of expression in discussing even the most difficult problems. His terse, crisp style serves well in his interaction with the multiciplity of arguments in primary arenas of scholarly concern-textual analysis, compositional sources, chronology, theological significance. Throughout, he effectively shares his broad knowledge of current research on Genesis and provides invaluable bibliographic information.Among the topics discussed are: Genesis in recent research and an evaluation of current critical positions An analysis of the principal source hypotheses of the early 19th century to the present The new literary criticism and its relationship to source criticism The theological relationship of Genesis 1-11 to ancient Near Eastern ideas, to the rest of the Pentateuch, and to modem thought.It would be difficult to find a more concise yet thorough discussion of technical and textual matters. At the same time, Dr. Wenham displays unusual sensitivity to the compositional artistry of Genesis and the importance of storytelling in God's self-revelation to the human family.Dr. Wenham shows the opening chapters of Genesis as describing an avalanche of sin that gradually engulfs mankind-the alienation of the first man and woman and their expulsion from the presence of God in the garden, mankind's near-annihilation in the flood, the folly of Babel and humanity's dispersal over the face of the globe teaching that without God's blessing mankind is without hope. "But the promises to Abraham and the patriarchs begin to repair that situation," says Dr. Wenham. "The covenant will benefit not just Abraham and his descendants, but in him all the nations of the earth will find blessing, and the ultimate fulfillment of the creator's ideals for humanity is guaranteed ... . Let us beware of allowing ourselves to be diverted from the central thrust of the book so that we miss what the Lord, our creator and redeemer, is saying to us."

    There are many "link-to-life" ideas to help teach each unit to any age group.

    In doing so he analyzes as well as synthesizes, treating both the biblical text and scholarly interpretations of it.

    The Chronicler finds in the records of Israel the "great overall pattern" of God's hand in history. The Lord's constant mercy, love and faithfulness shine through. With great perception, the Chronicler first selects and then proclaims this vibrant pattern, highlighted in the living events of the nations's actual hsitory. Once its purpose is grasped, the book comes alive. It can be seen as nothing less than a final and momentous look back over the entire Old Testament. Viewed in this way, Chronicles has something of the vividness, contrast and drama of the last book of the New Testament, Revelation. Michael Wilcock sees the countless persons named and chronicled as part of one people of the living God. They make vivid to us the truths by which the Lord's people in every generation are to live.

    This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.

    In this volume, internationally renowned scholars examine all of these sources in order to present the most impressive, comprehensive study of ancient Israelite religion yet to appear. The Editors PATRICK D. MILLER is Professor of Old Testament Theology Emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary. His books include Interpreting the Psalms (1986) and They Cried to the Lord (1994), both published by Fortress Press. PAUL D. HANSON is Corliss Lamont Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. He is the author of The Dawn of Apocalyptic: The Historical & Sociological Roots of Jewish Apocalyptic Eschatology (1984) and the editor of several volumes in the Hermeneia series, all published by Fortress Press. S. DEAN McBRIDE is Cyrus H. McCormick Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Interpretation Emeritus at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He is an author and editor for the Hermeneia series published by Fortress Press.

    The liberation from Egypt is a prelude to Israel’s unique calling to model before the nations a new life of service under God. Exodus portrays how God, through his servant Moses, wages a dramatic battle with Egypt’s mighty ruler for the release of enslaved Israel. The watching Israel wavers: “Is the Lord among us or not?” Even after Israel covenants to be God’s priestly kingdom and holy nation, Israel worships a golden calf. Once more God’s grace wrests Israel away, this time from slavery to doubts, fears, and self-centeredness. The people then focus faith on the imageless presence of God in their midst. God still wrestles for his people today.